Let's Talk About Potential

The Venango Republic has been drawn between genuine cringeworthy satire and comical business reviews in the last couple of months. Ultimately, the decision was made not to obsess too much over such reviews seeing that the satire is what makes the website fun for the visitors. Nonetheless, there are topics that come up from time to time which require laying satire to the side. One of the most recent examples is the old Oil City National Bank building which is being converted into a restaurant with several other businesses to occupy the upper floors. Our goal was to get an interview with the owner so we could write an article promoting the business. Unfortunately, it's been two weeks and we still have not recieved that email. It's almost like the owner knows a wix website is not worth his time. We don't blame him.

All that to say, we aren't going to wait for an email that is likely not going to come. There is so much to say about this business, we're not going to wait for it to open before we share our thoughts on the matter. Oil City has several restaurants that have lasted through the years as well as many which have struggled to survive. The Oil City National Bank building is the ideal setting for the vibe the owners seem to be pushing for, but the location raises questions that have yet to be answered. With this said, we are once again setting the satire asside to give an honest opinion of how we feel about the new restuarant coming to town.

We write a lot of satire at Oil City's expense because controversial humor is the best kind. However, this does not mean we don't want Oil City to succeed. In all honesty, we want this restaurant to not only thrive, but be the kind of hangout spot that starts drawing people back to town. Better yet, we would love it if this compelled other kinds of businesses to come back so we aren't having to drive to Erie to do something fun.

Oil City's biggest struggle over the years has been financial inflow. With no major industry exporting products outside the county, you often hear people use the phrase "support local business" or "keep money in the community." This is an optimists way of avoiding the phrase "we have not inflow." It's not like the days of the oil boom where the town could justify major civic improvements and a larger variety of restuarants. However, this does not mean that a unique kind of restuarant can't be the kick started the town needs to get something going.

Let's use Franklin as an example. Is it a metropolis? No. But for some reason, they have been able to maintain a decent business structure that not only thrives, but justifies events drawing visitors from outside of the area. Applefest is just one example of this. Interestingly enough, one of our most recent interviews with the owner of Smoke Cantina shows that people will drive hours to visit Franklin for certain experiences. The fact that Franklin has two music stores also shows how a small town can maintain a charm without being the "oil boom" experience. It could be argued that Franklin has factories at the edge of town helping it's progress and inflow of money. However, this probably is not as big a contributor as the charm itself. The factories are not as major as what was back in the oil industry era. It definitely does bring inflow, but we are going to credit most of Franklin's success to the appeal it carries.

Franklins example shows that things are possible with time and the right decisions. While it is easy to criticize leadership, it must be noted that Oil City is not the rich town it used to be. Bringing in business is a gamble and success takes trial and error over the course of time. What does this mean for the new brewery/restuarant moving into the bank building? Well, it has a lot going for it and some things that paint a concern. We'll start with the pros.

First, the interior is appealing which arguably is most important because first impressions are what pull people in. Secondly, it looks like the restuarant may have two levels. We aren't sure if they'll use the second level or not, but if so, this gives it that New York high class dining feel. Thirdly, they will serve alcohol which people will drive the distance to get and pay big money for. Fourthly, opening businesses on the upper levels will arguably increase the likelihood of staff coming down to eat over lunch their lunch breaks. Finally, the building is big enough to house a decent crowd which will be great if they decide to bring in performers or DJ's for public events.

Now, there are areas of concern. First, the parking lot behind the building is not that big. Secondly, Oil City is a wellfare town that can only justify so many restaurants before some start shutting down. Thirdly, the population wealth status means this restuarant will likely have to depend on visitors from outside the city. Fourthly, the town does not offer much for visitors other than restuarants and a few other generic businesses. Fifthly, many restuarants in town are closed the first half of the week because of the lack of visitors suggesting that a restaurant this size may have to do the same.

It takes time to build a "tourist spot" and Oil City has struggled to reach this pinacle for years. Nonetheless, the new brewery might be just what the town needs to at least get people from surrounding areas to come. The advantage of having several bars in town is that people will hop from each location in one night. The disadvantage of having one this big is that it could potentially take business away from other restuarants in town if it is too successful. On the other hand, it can also not draw enough business to justify their size. This is where Oil City gets the most flack when its attempts to grow fall flat. People spend an overhaul of money, time, and effort trying to create something "big" but don't have other interesting things to accompany what they make.

Lets take the hotel that was torn down as an example. Decades ago people once booked that place because there were things to do in town other than eating at a restuarant. Now, it seems like Oil City puts so much time into small every day item businesses, there is not anything unique to justify a person driving hours to visit. Grant it, you will hear business owners say they "have met people from out of state." The problem with this is that every town can say they have people passing through from out of state. That's not the same as drawing tourism. Are you drawing hundreds a week? Or are you just occasionaly hearing a person say "I'm from out of state"? If that's the case, Tionesta is an even bigger tourist trap because people actually stop there for camping and hunting. It arguably draws more people than Oil City and those stopping in aren't just passing through.

If Oil City is going to use the whole "local business" model to draw tourists, it needs something no other town offers. Every town has bars. Every town has restuarants. Any town can put lights on a bridge (which would have looked better on the Veterines bridge if you ask me). Creating basic businesses offering crafted items will not influence people to drive hours for your town. And before you say "I have met people from out of state" just ask yourself how impressive that is compared to areas that get hundreds of people weekly from out of state. An occasional visitor does not suggest we're a hot spot for tourists.

Oil City is probably never going to be the boom town it used to be. However, it would be nice to get something going so that people are interested in spending their money here. If this restuarant presents a unique experience not seen anywhere else in the region, then the city is off to a great start. The next task will just be to create a couple of other experiences that justify people wanting to stay for a weekend.

One way the new brewery could thrive is having pamphelets at the front door for local experiences. Take for instance the Venango Museum and Debence Museum. Can someone justify a weekend on those alone? Obviously not. But mix in a couple more unique experiences other than a restuarant or hotel, and maybe you will have what you need to convince people to stay a weekend.

Not sure what ideas to use? Well, people love their guns here. Oddly, we don't seem to have a gun range. We also don't have a mini golf course in the Seneca, Franklin, Oil City region. There is an ax throwing place outside of Franklin, but no mentions of it in town. No, these ideas are not unique. But if you mange to create this kind of variety and place pamphlets in your local restuarants and hotels, it would give visitors something to talk about when they leave. No, you won't see hundreds of people coming in a weeks time. But you might see couples stopping in for a weekend getaway. That would be your ideal starting point to draw people back in.

You can't just keep opening up restaurants hoping the tourists will come. While we are hopeful this succeeds, there needs to be more variety in things to do other than eating food. Plus, the restuarants could help people who are passing through get a glimpse into what is already available by placing pamphlets in their facilities. There is already talk around town about someone wanting to rebuild a hotel where the old one used to be. That too could be a starting point in getting Oil City working in the right direction if it colaborates with the new restuarant. However, the area needs to show it has stuff available for people to do other than eating. This starts by not only promoting what the county offers, but by creating more tiny gems within a reasonable distance. If the only thing Oil City can offer at first is a restuarant and hotel, that's fine as long as they can convince visitors there are things to do in the region. It doesn't even have to be Oil City containing every tourist attraction. Oil City can be the base for the hotel and restuarant while the interests drawing people exist in the surrounding towns. It would be nice for Oil City to get some more things eventually, but progress sometimes requires starting small.

As a final note, small business is not what's holding Oil City back. The lack of interest is. You don't need a big concept to get the ball rolling. You can start with a bunch of really good small ideas that offer variation. But it needs to be something better than home made crafts or house decor items. Those are great things to have in place, but not the kind of things that will draw people here. You have to create businesses that get people doing fun activities or that allow them to experience something worth their time. That is what will get cash flow to the region again.